Freshwater Landscape Reconstruction from the Bronze Age Site of Borsodivánka (North-Eastern Hungary)

Abstract

This multiproxy work presents the archeozoological analysis of fish and microvertebrate remains from the Middle Bronze Age tell site of Borsodivánka (Borsod Plain, North-eastern Hungary). The fish faunal assemblage provides valuable data on the choice of exploited consumption patterns, taphonomy, and aquatic paleoenvironmental conditions at the site during the Bronze Age. Only freshwater taxa are present in the assemblage, for example, northern pike (Esox lucius); cyprinids: roach (Rutilus rutilus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), common chub (Squalius cephalus) and common nase (Chondrostoma nasus); and percids: European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). Herpetofaunal and micromammal remains are also part of this study, improving our knowledge of the site’s freshwater ecosystem. The grass snake (Natrix cf. natrix) and the European pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis), typical of aquatic ecosystems, are associated with the Aesculapian ratsnake (Zamenis longissimus), more typical of forest, shrubland, and grassland. The presence of amphibians such as toads (Bufo/Bufotes sp.) and frogs (Rana sp.) complete the herpetofaunal list. The microvertebrates also support a mature fluvial system, as represented by taxa like the European water vole (Arvicola amphibius). Other micromammals are present, such as the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), the group of the common/field vole (Microtus arvalis/agrestis), the European mole (Talpa europaea), and the house mouse (Mus musculus). All of them are common in forests, shrubland, and grassland. However, the commensal house mouse is more commonly associated with anthropogenic areas. In conclusion, Borsodivánka is characterized by a diverse landscape mosaic, displayed by the co-existence of a well-developed forest and a freshwater inland ecosystem with agricultural land in the wider area. Finally, the Tisza River and its flood plain represented the main water source close to the site, distinguished by the dominance of fish species from deep and slow-flowing waters.